International Charter activated for fire in Argentina

The International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" was activated on 10 September 2013 to acquire and provide space-based information and maps for wildfires in Cordoba province, Argentina. The mechanism was activated by SIFEM - DNPC; the project management will be carried out by the Argentinian Space Agency CONAE.

The wildfires that have struck the Cordoba province were caused by high seasonal temperatures and strong winds. Firefighters have been struggling to put a halt to the flames and hundreds of people have been evacuated. It is estimated that thousands of hectares of land have been affected. One of the worst affected areas of Cordoba is Calamuchita where 450 people were evacuated and 30 houses were destroyed in Yacanto.